HEALTH UNIT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1930, Page 2

HEALTH UNIT

ORGANISATION IN CANADA,

VANCOUVER, Aug. 20.; , For some years past Canada has been making a determined ibid id (emulate the remarkable success achieved by New Zealand in reducing infantile mortality. Excellent resuits have beisn attained, and the work is being carried on actively by public and private organisations. The problem is still s acute, chiefly , due to the vastness of the country and the severity of the winder. Last year, of 232,205 children bbrn in Canada, 7091 were still-born; 23,6/1 died before their fiiet birthday; 30,973 died before they reached five years, 9000 mothers died in childlbirht. In the outlying districts, the fulltime Health Unit is a factor in improving the chances of infants to survive the difficult first years of life. Quebec is noted for these units, which are off the beaten track, in communities that have not up to-date hospital and medical comforts. Usually a small community taxes itself voluntarily to engage the services of a doctor, a nurse, a sanitary engineer, and a secretary, together with equipment within their means. The territory 'of such a unit varies to suit the needs of different localities. Where there is a permanent logging outfit, t}ie organisation is carried on by the lumber company, supplemented by contribuVion from employeeu. Quebec shows good returns for this health service. In one unit the infantile mortality dropped from 213 to 160 in a year/ Deaths from adult sickness fell (from 0-13 to 487, and deaths from contagious disease from 87 to 2/. Three jsmal.l outlying units reduced 1 (je number of deaths from 147 to 79. Alberta has a system of travelling clinics, which co-operate with local units. The clinic includes aNdoctor, dentist and nurse. The school, community hall, or even the church is turned into a temporary assembly point for + he clinics at- the time of its visit. These clinics are showing remarkable results, especially among unprivileged .children in the backJblocks. Their ultimate aim is to have every man. woman and child in the hack country examined at least once a ‘ year by a doctor and a dentist.